Toothbrush having a vibrating head part

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a toothbrush with a handle ( 1 ) and a bristle-carrying front head part ( 3 ) which are interlinked by means of a neck part ( 4 ). The head part ( 3 ) or the zone adjoining said head part accommodates a mechanical vibratory device ( 10 ) that sets the head part ( 3 ) vibrating. Said vibratory device is functionally linked with an electric power source ( 25 ) accommodated in the handle ( 1 ) by means of electrical connections ( 33, 34 ) that extend in the neck part ( 4 ). The aim of the invention is to improve a toothbrush in such a manner that the vibrations are not transmitted to the handle ( 1 ) To this end, vibration-damping means ( 7 ) are provided that allow the vibrations to take effect mainly in the head part ( 3 ) and to be hardly perceptible in the handle ( 1 ) so that the toothbrush is pleasant to use. The size of the inventive toothbrush corresponds roughly to that of conventional manual toothbrushes. Yet this simple and inexpensive toothbrush allows for a cleaning effect that is comparable to that of known, substantially bigger and more expensive electric toothbrushes

[0001] The invention relates to a toothbrush according to the preambleof claim 1.

[0002] For teeth-cleaning purposes nowadays use is made either ofconventional manual toothbrushes or of electric toothbrushes, in thecase of which a movable brush head can be motor-driven from the handle.Electric toothbrushes usually achieve a more intensive cleaning actionthan the manual toothbrushes, but they have the disadvantage that theyare relatively bulky and expensive and may damage the gums and subjectthe tooth enamel to pronounced abrasion.

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide acost-effective toothbrush which corresponds, in size, approximately tothe conventional manual toothbrushes and nevertheless allows a bettercleaning action than the latter.

[0004] This object is achieved according to the invention by atoothbrush having the features of claim 1.

[0005] Since a mechanical vibratory device which causes the head part tovibrate is accommodated in a front head part of the toothbrush, or in aneck-part region adjacent to the head part, said neck part connectingthe head part to the handle, and is operatively connected to a powersource, accommodated in the handle, via electrical connections runningin the neck part, vibration-damping means preferably being provided inorder to prevent vibration transmission to the handle, this achieves thesituation where the vibrations which effect the improved cleaning actionare produced predominantly in the head part and can only be felt to aslight extent in the handle, as a result of which comfortable handlingof the toothbrush is achieved. A further advantage of the toothbrushaccording to the invention is that there is no need for any mechanicaldrive means to be led through the flexible neck part to the vibratorydevice. It is merely the electrical connections, designed as wires,cables or electrically conductive plastic tracks, which run through theneck part.

[0006] Preferred developments of the toothbrush according to theinvention form the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0007] The invention will now be explained in more detail with referenceto the drawing, in which, purely schematically:

[0008]FIG. 1 shows a side view, partially in section, of a firstexemplary embodiment of a toothbrush according to the invention and of ahandle-closure part separated from one another (without a battery);

[0009]FIG. 2 shows a bottom view, partially in section, of a secondexemplary embodiment of a toothbrush according to the invention in theassembled state;

[0010]FIG. 3 shows a side view, partially in section, of the toothbrushaccording to FIG. 2 and the closure part separated from one another(without a battery);

[0011]FIG. 4 shows a side view of a third exemplary embodiment of atoothbrush according to the invention in the assembled state; and

[0012]FIG. 5 shows a front part of the toothbrush according to FIG. 4with different embodiments of exchangeable treatment heads.

[0013] Both the toothbrush illustrated in FIG. 1 and that according toFIGS. 2 and 3 each have a handle 1, a front bristle-carrying head part 3and a neck part 4, which connects the head part 3 to the handle 1. Thebristles combined to form clusters of bristles 6 are anchored in abristle carrier 5 and form a possibly profiled brushing surface withtheir free ends. In the embodiment illustrated, the bristle carrier 5with the clusters of bristles 6 is positioned, in a manner which isknown per se and thus is not described in any more detail, on aretaining part 2 of the head part 3 such that it can be exchanged.

[0014] The neck part 4 is provided with neck-part zones 7 which are madeof an elastically relatively compliant material component and providefor, or additionally increase, the elasticity of the neck part 4, withthe result that, during use of the toothbrush, the bristle-carrying headpart 3 can be forced back resiliently in the case of forces acting inthe direction of the brushing surface. If appropriate, the neck-partzones 7 are designed as notches which extend over part of the neckcircumference and are filled with elastically compliant material (e.g.with thermoplastic elastomer). Of course, it would also be quiteconceivable for the form and number of neck-part zones to be different.It is also conceivable to have a flexible neck zone without usingelastic material components, e.g. by providing constrictions or by wayof a bellows.

[0015] Integrated in the front head part 3, or in that region of theneck part 4 which is adjacent to the head part 3, is a mechanicalvibratory device 10, by means of which vibrations which effect orenhance the teeth-cleaning action may be imparted to thebristle-carrying head part 3. The vibratory device 10 can be connectedto an electric power source, accommodated in the handle 1, viaelectrical connections running in the neck part 4, as is describedhereinbelow. The already mentioned neck-part zones 7 made of anelastically compliant material act here as means which damp thevibration between the vibrating head part 3 and the handle 1, with theresult that the vibratory action is produced, in particular, in the headpart and is only transmitted to the handle 1 to a slight extent. Thismeans that only slight vibrations can be felt in the handle 1 during theteeth-cleaning operation, and the toothbrush is thus comfortable tohandle. Conversely, however, it is also advantageous that the vibrationproduced is not damped by the handle 1 and can act to full effect in thehead part 3. Instead of the neck-part zones 7 consisting of elasticallycompliant material, however, other vibration-damping means would also beconceivable; it is not absolutely necessary to use an elastic material.The damping may also be achieved, using a basic material, by the neckpart being configured in a particular form, for example by the presenceof a bellows/accordion part, etc.

[0016] Accommodated in the handle 1 is a sheath or sleeve 20 whichextends in the longitudinal direction of said handle and is made ofelectrically conductive material. Both the handle 1 and the sleeve 20are open to the rear, this forming a cavity 21 which can be closed fromthe rear by a closure part 22 and into which it is possible to insert abattery 25, in the exemplary embodiment illustrated a commerciallyavailable, non-rechargeable cylindrical battery, with a defined power(e.g. 1.5 V) as the power source for the vibratory device 10. It wouldalso be possible, however, for a button cell or for a rechargeablestorage battery to be used as the power source.

[0017] A spring contact 29 for the positive pole 30 of the battery 25(see FIG. 2) is fitted in the sleeve 20, on a transverse wall 28, and isconnected to the vibratory device 10 via an electric line 31, a switch32, which is installed in the sleeve 20 and can be actuated from theoutside of the handle 1, and an electric line 33 running in the neckpart 4. The electrical connection can be interrupted by means of theswitch 32.

[0018] The closure part 22 is provided with a threaded stub 22 a made ofan electrically conductive material and can be screwed into the handle 1and/or into the sleeve 20 by way of said threaded stub. The threadedstub 22 a is provided with a contact surface 22 b which, with theclosure part 22 screwed in, comes into abutment against the negativepole 35 of the battery 25 inserted into the sleeve 20. The negative pole35 is electrically connected to the vibratory device 10 via the threadedstub 22 a, the sleeve 20 itself and a line 34, which connects the sleeve20 to the vibratory device 10 and runs in the neck part 4.

[0019] Instead of being transmitted via the electrically conductivesleeve 20, it would also be possible for the power to be transmitted insome other way, for example using wires or an electrically conductiveplastic.

[0020] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the vibratorydevice 10 comprises a vibratory element 11′ which functions preferablyin the manner of a vibratory armature, can be electrically connecteddirectly to the power source via the lines 33, 34 and, with the powersource connected, is made to vibrate.

[0021] In the case of the toothbrush variant illustrated in FIGS. 2 and3, the vibratory device 10 comprises a vibratory element 11 in the formof an eccentric, which produces mechanical vibrations and can be rotatedabout an axis located in the longitudinal direction of the toothbrush,and also comprises a drive which is arranged directly adjacent and isdesigned as a micromotor 15. The vibratory element 11 is connected tothe shaft 15 a of the micromotor 15, which can be electrically connectedto the power source via the lines 33, 34. The micromotor 15 and theeccentric may be accommodated as a structural unit in a housing 12.

[0022] Instead of an eccentric which can be driven in rotation, it wouldalso be possible to have a vibratory element 11 which can be driven in atranslatory manner.

[0023] It would be possible, in the case of the toothbrush according tothe invention, to arrange the bristle-carrying head part 3 such that itcan be moved in relation to the neck part 4 in order for the latter, inthe case of vibrations produced by means of the vibratory device 10, tobe made to move in relation to the rest of the toothbrush.

[0024] The electric lines 31, 33, 34 could also be realized byelectricity-conducting plastic tracks.

[0025] The switch 32, which connects or interrupts the lines 31, 33, mayalso be, for example, a magnetic switch.

[0026] The preferred configuration of the switch 32, however, contains apulse switch arranged on a printed circuit board as well as furtherelectronic components which store the switching state.

[0027] It is also possible, however, for the electrical connectionbetween the battery 25 and the vibratory element 11′ (FIG. 1) or thedrive 15 (FIGS. 2 and 3) to be produced or interrupted not by the switch32, but by the closure part 22, which can be screwed into the handle 1and/or into the sleeve 20 or connected to the same in a bayonet-likemanner, being turned (i.e. the switch 32 is dispensed with in the caseof such a configuration).

[0028] Instead of the rear closure part 22 being screwed to the handle1, it would, of course, also be possible to have some other type ofreleasable connection (e.g. plug-in connection, bayonet connection,etc.) and a corresponding configuration of the contact part interactingwith the negative pole 35.

[0029] It would also be possible for the closure part 22 to be in a formwhich is quite different to that illustrated in the drawing. Forexample, the closure part could be provided with a set-down surface or afoot part and thus serve as an element on which the toothbrush can beset down.

[0030] The toothbrush illustrated in FIG. 4 corresponds essentially tothat according to FIGS. 2 and 3; the same parts, once again, have thesame designations. According to FIG. 4, the vibratory device 10 isarranged directly in the front head part 3. In this exemplaryembodiment, the sleeve 20 is dispensed with; the battery 25 is connecteddirectly to the vibratory device 10 via the lines 33, 34. It is also thecase with this toothbrush that use is preferably made of an exchangeablebristle carrier 5 which can be positioned on a retaining part 2 of thehead part 3, e.g. in the manner of a snap-in connection. The capacityfor changing the bristle carrier 5 provided with the clusters ofbristles 6 is particularly advantageous since the toothbrush providedwith the vibratory device 10 can be used irrespective of the servicelife of the bristles, which is usually even shorter than the servicelife of the battery 25.

[0031] As can be seen from FIG. 5, it is possible, instead of thebristle carrier 5 or 5 a, which forms part of a conventional brush headand is provided with respective clusters of bristles 6 or 6 a, toposition other, optionally different bristle carriers or adapters 5 b to5 d on the retaining part 2, these being provided with differentinterdental brushes 6 b, 6 c or interdental treatment parts 6 d foreffective cleaning of the spaces between the teeth. The interdentalbrush 6 b may be designed, for example, as a helical brush made ofcoated wire with plastic filaments twisted in. The interdental brush 6 ccomprises bristles which, together, form a cluster tip. The treatmentpart 6 d may be designed, for example, as a plastic element which has atip and may preferably be provided with an abrasive coating for removingplaque and tartar from the spaces between the teeth. Of course, it wouldalso be possible to use any other desired treatment heads.

[0032] It is also the case with the variant according to FIGS. 4 and 5that the bristle carrier 5 could be configured such that avibration-induced movement in relation to the retaining part 2 werepossible.

[0033] For the introduction of the vibratory device 10, the connectinglines 33, 34 and further electronic components, it is possible for thetoothbrush according to the invention, or the housing thereof, to beproduced in two parts and for the two parts to be welded in awater-tight manner once the abovementioned parts have been positionedtherein.

[0034] It is also possible, however, for the toothbrush according to theinvention to be produced by injection molding preferably involving twoor more components. The abovementioned parts are advantageouslypositioned as a unit in an injection molding made of a first materialcomponent and then encapsulated in the second material component (or inthe further material component) by injection molding. It is notnecessary here for full encapsulation to take place. Certain parts maybe exposed, as a result of which it is possible to achieve an estheticeffect.

[0035] It would also be possible, however, for the abovementionedelectronic components to be inserted into a ready molded handle 1.

[0036] Since it is not only the vibratory element 11, 11′ itself butalso the drive, i.e. the micromotor 15, which are arranged in the fronthead part 3, or in the directly adjacent front region of the neck part4, it is not necessary for any mechanical drive means to be led throughthe flexible neck part 4 in order to connect the micromotor to thevibratory element 11. It is only the electric lines 33, 34 (wires,cables or electrically conductive plastic tracks) which run through theneck part 4.

[0037] According to the invention, use is made of a mechanical vibratorydevice 10 which has a diameter of less than 15 mm, preferably less than6 mm, and is less than 35 mm, preferably less than 20 mm, in length.This ensures that the toothbrush may be of ergonomic configuration andis easy to handle. The toothbrush according to the inventioncorresponds, in size, more or less to the conventional manualtoothbrushes, which makes them more straightforward to handle incomparison with the commercially available, considerably larger electrictoothbrushes, even though this toothbrush achieves a cleaning actionwhich is comparable with that of the known electric toothbrushes, but isgentler than the latter. Moreover, the toothbrush according to theinvention is straightforward and cost-effective to produce.

[0038] It is nevertheless also possible for the vibratory deviceaccording to the invention to be integrated in conventional electrictoothbrushes.

1. A toothbrush having a handle (1) and a front bristle-carrying headpart (3), which are connected to one another by a neck part (4),characterized by a mechanical vibratory device (10) which causes thehead part (3) to vibrate, is accommodated in the head part (3), or inthe region adjacent to the head part (3), and is operatively connectedto an electric power source (25), accommodated in the handle (1), viaelectrical connections (33, 34) running in the neck part (4).
 2. Thetoothbrush as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the vibratorydevice (10) has a vibratory element (11) which can be driven by a drive(15) which can be electrically connected to the power source (25) and isarranged directly adjacent to the vibratory element (11) in the headpart (3) or in the region adjacent to the head part (3).
 3. Thetoothbrush as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the vibratorydevice (10) has a vibratory element (11′) which is designed in themanner of a vibratory armature, can be electrically connected directlyto the power source (25) and, with the power source (25) connected, ismade to vibrate.
 4. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 2, characterizedin that the vibratory element (11) is designed as an eccentric which ismounted in a housing (12) such that it can be rotated about an axislocated in the longitudinal direction of the toothbrush.
 5. Thetoothbrush as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in thatvibration-damping means (7) are provided in order to prevent vibrationtransmission to the handle (1).
 6. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 5,characterized in that, in the region located between the vibratoryelement (11 or 11′) and the handle (1), the neck part (4) hasvibration-damping neck-part zones (7) made of an elastically compliantmaterial.
 7. The toothbrush as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6,characterized in that the power source used is an exchangeable battery(25) which can be inserted into the handle (1) and can be electricallyconnected directly to the drive (15) or to the vibratory element (11′).8. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that thebattery (25) can be inserted into a sleeve (20) which is made ofelectrically conductive material and is arranged in a handle cavity (21)which is open to the rear and can be closed from the rear by a closurepart (22).
 9. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9,characterized in that one battery pole (30) is electrically connected tothe drive (15) (or directly to the vibratory element (11′)) via a springcontact (29) and via lines (31; 33) leading from the spring contact (29)to the drive (15) (or directly to the vibratory element (11′)) and theother battery pole (35) is electrically connected via a part (22 a) ofthe closure part (22), which is releasably connected to the handle (1),and a line (34) adjoining the drive (15) (or the vibratory element (11′)directly), a switch (32) being provided in order to interrupt one of thetwo electrical connections.
 10. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 9,characterized in that the lines (31; 33) leading from the spring contact(29) to the drive (15) (or directly to the vibratory element (11′)) canbe connected to one another via the switch (32), it being the case thatthe switch (32) is installed in the handle (1) and can be actuated fromthe outside of the handle (1).
 11. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 9,characterized in that the switch is integrated in the closure part (22)and can be actuated by the closure part (22), which can be screwed intothe handle (1) or connected to the same in a bayonet-like manner, beingturned.
 12. The toothbrush as claimed in one of claims 1 to 11,characterized in that the head part (3) has a retaining part (2) onwhich a bristle carrier (5) provided with bristles is positioned in anexchangeable manner.
 13. The toothbrush as claimed in one of claims 1 to12, characterized in that the head part (3) is arranged such that it canbe moved in relation to the neck part (4), and can be made to moverelative to the neck part (4) by the vibrations produced by means of thevibratory device (10).
 14. The toothbrush as claimed in one of claims 1to 13, characterized in that the vibratory device (10) and theelectronic components form a unit which is intended for being positionedin an injection molding made of a first material component and being atleast partially encapsulated in at least one further material componentby injection molding.
 15. The toothbrush as claimed in one of claims 1to 13, characterized in that the vibratory device (10) and theelectronic components form a unit which is intended for beingaccommodated between two separately produced toothbrush parts which areconnected, preferably welded, to one another in a water-tight manner.16. The toothbrush as claimed in one of claims 1 to 15, characterized inthat the mechanical vibratory device (10) has a diameter of less than 15mm, preferably less than 6 mm, and is less than 35 mm, preferably lessthan 20 mm, in length.